Daily Current Affairs for All exams- 16th September 2016

1. UIDAI bans sharing of Aadhaar details

1. In a step to ensure that the details of Aadhaar is not misused, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) asked agencies in possession of Aadhaar number of an individual to not publish or post the information publicly.

2. It said that the agencies will have to ensure security and confidentiality of the 12-digit resident identification number under the Aadhaar Act.

3. Regulations

• The core biometric information, collected by the Authority, cannot be shared with anyone for any reason.

• Any violation of the Aadhaar Act will constitute an offence and is punishable under the Act.

• The agencies that collect the Aadhaar number will also have to specify whether submission of the number or proof of Aadhaar is mandatory or voluntary.

• The regulations also provide for obtaining consent of the Aadhaar number holder for collection, storage and use of the same for specified purposes.

2. Barack Obama designates first US Marine National Monument in Atlantic Ocean

1. The United States President Barack Obama designated the country’s first marine national monument, Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, in the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

The monument aims at protecting fragile deep-sea ecosystems off the coast of New England.

3. The announcement was made by the American president at the third annual Our Ocean Conference in Washington DC. The Conference is hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry. The Conference focuses on issues related to marine-protected areas, sustainable fisheries, marine pollution, and climate-related impacts on the ocean.

4. In August 2016, Obama had decided to expand the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument off the coast of Hawaii by 1.1 million square km, creating the world’s largest marine protected area.

5. More than 20 countries attending the annual ocean conservation meeting will announce the creation of 40 significant new marine protected areas, totalling nearly 1.2 million square km of ocean.

When combined with the Papahanaumokuakea expansion, the nations of the world have protected more than 900000 square miles of ocean in 2016, exceeding last year’s record of more than 1.9 million square km.

3. East Bengal wins Calcutta Football League 2016

1. Indian football giants East Bengal won the Calcutta Football League (CFL) for the seventh consecutive time.

2. The team defeated Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 at the Kalyani Stadium.

3. East Bengal bettered its own record of winning it six times straight from 1970 to 1975.

4. International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer 2016 observed across the world

1. The 2016 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was observed across the world on 16 September 2016. The theme for the year 2016 is Ozone and climate: Restored by a world united.

2. The theme for the 2016 International Ozone Day recognizes the collective efforts of the parties to the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol towards the restoration of the ozone layer over the past three decades and the global commitment to combat climate change.

5. 15 September: International Democracy Day

1. The International Democracy Day is being observed every year on 15 September to raise public awareness about the democratic system. The observance of the day provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world.

2. It focuses on essential elements of democracy i.e. values of freedom, respect for human rights and principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage. 2016 Theme: “Democracy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development“.

1. Indian-American physician-author, Abraham Verghese (61) has been selected for the prestigious 2015 National Humanities Medal. President Barack Obama will bestow the honour upon Verghese along with 11 others recipient’s at a ceremony to be held in Washington on 21st September 2016.

2. He has been selected for the prestigious award for reminding us that the patient is the centre of the medical enterprise.